Councilman introducing resolution to dedicate trees to Emanuel 9

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - A Charleston City Councilman will introduce a resolution to dedicate 15 trees to the memory of the Emanuel 9.

Councilman William Gregorie announced on Monday that he intends to introduce the resolution at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

The trees, which would be located at the Gaillard Center, would honor the lives of the nine people slain in the June 17 shooting as well as the five survivors and the congregation of the Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

You can read the full resolution below:

RESOLUTION TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THE NINE MEMBERS OF MOTHER EMANUEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH WHO WERE TRAGICALLY SLAIN ON THE EVENING OF JUNE 17, 2015 AS WELL THE FIVE SURVIVORS OF THIS TRAGEDY AND THE CONGREGATION OF MOTHER EMANUEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH BY DEDICATING FIFTEEN TREES IN THEIR HONOR AT THE GAILLARD CENTER LOCATED AT 95 CALHOUN STREET IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF CHARLESTON, STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

WHEREAS, on the evening of June 17, 2015, Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in the City of Charleston, South Carolina ("Mother Emanuel AME Church" or "Church"), including its pastor and State Senator Clementa Pinckney, Cynthia Graham Hurd, Susie Jackson, Tywanza Sanders, Ethel Lance, Reverend DePayne Middleton-Doctor, Reverend Daniel L. Simmons Sr., Reverend Sharonda Singleton, and Reverend Myra Thompson (the "Emanuel Nine") and five other congregation members of Mother Emanuel AME Church, opened its sanctuary to a stranger to allow him to share the gospel of Jesus Christ during a time of study led by Myra Thompson, and

WHEREAS, suddenly during this time of study, the lives of the Emanuel Nine were unexpectedly and violently stolen from them, their families, the congregation of Mother Emanuel AME Church and the City of Charleston (the "City"); and

WHEREAS, five members of Mother Emanuel AME Church who were at the Mother Emanuel AME Church during this time of study survived the brutal killings described above (the "Five Survivors"); and 

WHEREAS, the subsequent horror of the deaths of the Emanuel Nine and the tragic experiences of the Five Survivors shook the foundations of the Church and its congregation (the "Congregation"), the City, the State of South Carolina and the nation; and

WHEREAS, the crimes did not shatter the rock on which Mother Emanuel AME Church was built or break the spiritual hearts of the families and the congregation of Mother Emanuel AME Church who suffered these tragic losses and experiences; and

WHEREAS, the City desires to pay tribute to the Emanuel Nine, the Five Survivors and the Congregation of Mother Emanuel AME Church by dedicating fifteen trees in their honor to memorialize their deaths, sufferings and losses as a result of the horrific tragedy that occurred at the Mother Emanuel AME Church on the evening of June 17, 2015, said trees being located on the front lawn of the Gaillard Center located at 95 Calhoun Street in the City and County of Charleston, State of South Carolina which is across the street from Mother Emanuel AME Church and within the Emanuel Way Memorial District, to forever memorialize their lives, their sufferings and losses and the power of the Church and the community that forgiveness can overcome hatred. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I, Joseph P. Riley, Jr., Mayor, City of Charleston, and Charleston City Council shall honor the Emanuel Nine, the Five Survivors and the Congregation of Mother Emanuel AME Church by dedicating fifteen trees on the front lawn of the Gaillard Center located at 95 Calhoun Street in the City and County of Charleston, State of South Carolina which is across the street from Mother Emanuel AME Church and within the Emanuel Way Memorial District as a result of the horrific tragedy that occurred at the Mother Emanuel AME Church on the evening of June 17, 2015, said location and type of trees and the location of a 12" x 24" plaque commemorating the Emanuel Nine, the Five Survivors and the Congregation of Mother Emanuel AME Church being more fully shown on Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Charleston to be affixed this ____day of December, 2015.



____________________________________ Joseph P. Riley, Jr., Mayor 
City of Charleston




ATTEST: ____________________________________
Vanessa Turner-Maybank
Clerk of Council
EXHIBIT A


William Dudley Gregorie

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